MOS Devices with Mask Layers and Methods for Forming the Same

ABSTRACT

A device includes a substrate, a gate dielectric over the substrate, and a gate electrode over the gate dielectric. A drain region and a source region are disposed on opposite sides of the gate electrode. Insulation regions are disposed in the substrate, wherein edges of the insulation regions are in contact with edges of the drain region and the source region. A dielectric mask includes a portion overlapping a first interface between the drain region and an adjoining portion of the insulation regions. A drain silicide region is disposed over the drain region, wherein an edge of the silicide region is substantially aligned to an edge of the first portion of the dielectric mask.

BACKGROUND

The semiconductor Integrated Circuit (IC) industry has experienced rapidgrowth. Technological advances in IC materials and design have producedgenerations of ICs, with each generation having smaller and more complexcircuits than the previous generations. These advances, however, havecaused the increase in the complexity of processing and manufacturingICs and, for these advances to be realized, similar developments in ICprocessing and manufacturing are needed.

As semiconductor circuits composed of devices such asMetal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistors (MOSFETs) are adaptedfor high voltage applications, problems arise with respect toincorporating a high voltage device with a low voltage device (e.g., alogic device) for a System on Chip (SoC) technology. For example, as thescaling down of logic device continues, the process flow may beaccompanied with high implantation concentrations, and thus may causehigh leakage problems and the degradation of the device reliability.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the embodiments, and the advantagesthereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1 through 8 are top views and cross-sectional views ofintermediate stages in the manufacturing of a Metal-Oxide-SemiconductorField-Effect Transistors (MOSFET) in accordance with some exemplaryembodiments; and

FIG. 9 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a MOSFET in accordance withalternative embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

The making and using of the embodiments of the disclosure are discussedin detail below. It should be appreciated, however, that the embodimentsprovide many applicable inventive concepts that can be embodied in awide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussedare illustrative, and do not limit the scope of the disclosure.

A Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistors (MOSFET) withreduced leakage current and the method of forming the same are providedin accordance with various exemplary embodiments. The intermediatestages of forming the MOSFET are illustrated in accordance with anexemplary embodiment. The variations of the embodiment are discussed.Throughout the various views and illustrative embodiments, likereference numbers are used to designate like elements.

FIGS. 1 through 8 are cross-sectional views and top views ofintermediate stages in the manufacturing of MOSFET 100 (FIG. 8) inaccordance with exemplary embodiments. Referring to FIG. 1, substrate 20is provided, wherein substrate 20 may be a portion of a semiconductorwafer such as a silicon wafer. Alternatively, substrate 20 may includeother semiconductor materials such as germanium. Substrate 20 may alsoinclude a compound semiconductor such as silicon carbon, galliumarsenic, indium arsenide, indium phosphide, III-V compound semiconductormaterials, or the like. Substrate 20 may be a bulk semiconductorsubstrate, and an epitaxial layer may be, or may not be, formed on thebulk substrate. Furthermore, substrate 20 may be aSemiconductor-On-Insulator (SOI) substrate. In some embodiments, DeepN-Well (DNW) 24 may be formed in substrate 20, for example, throughimplantation.

Insulation regions 22 are formed in substrate 20 to define andelectrically isolate active regions, in which devices such astransistors may be formed. Insulation regions 22 may be Shallow TrenchIsolation (STI) regions or Local Oxidation of Silicon (LOCOS) regions.

FIG. 1 further illustrates the formation of n-well region 26 and p-wellregion 28. In some embodiments, the formation of each of n-well 26 andp-well region 28 includes forming and patterning a photo resist (notshown), wherein the regions of substrate 20 in which n-well 26 andp-well region 28 are to be formed are exposed. An implantation is thenperformed to form n-well 26 or p-well region 28. The respective photoresist is then removed. In some exemplary embodiments, n-well 26 andp-well region 28 may have impurity concentrations between about 10¹⁴/cm³ and about 10¹⁷ /cm³. It is appreciated, however, that the valuesrecited throughout the description are merely examples, and may bechanged to different values.

Referring to FIG. 2, gate structure 30 is formed over substrate 20. Insome embodiments, gate structure 30 includes a first portion overlyingn-well region 26 and a second portion overlying p-well region 28. Gatestructure 30 includes gate dielectric 32, and gate electrode 34overlying gate dielectric 32. In some exemplary embodiments, gatedielectric 32 comprises silicon dioxide. Alternatively, gate dielectric32 may comprise a high-k dielectric material, silicon oxynitride, othersuitable materials, or combinations thereof. The high-k material may beselected from metal oxides, metal nitrides, metal silicates, transitionmetal-oxides, transition metal-nitrides, transition metal-silicates,oxynitrides of metals, metal aluminates, zirconium silicate, zirconiumaluminate, hafnium oxide, or combinations thereof. Gate dielectric 32may be formed using Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD), Atomic LayerDeposition (ALD), thermal oxide, and the like.

Gate electrode 34 may comprise polycrystalline silicon (polysilicon).Alternatively, gate electrode 34 comprises a metal or a metal silicidesuch as Al, Cu, W, Ni, Mo, Co, Ti, Ta, TiN, TaN, NiSi, NiPtSi, CoSi, orcombinations thereof. The formation methods of gate electrode 34 includeCVD, Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD), ALD, and other proper processes.The formation of gate dielectric 32 and gate electrode 34 may includeforming a blanket dielectric layer and a blanket gate electrode layer,and then performing a patterning to form gate dielectric 32 and gateelectrode 34.

Referring to FIG. 2, p-type source extension region 36 is formed. Theformation process may include forming and patterning photo resist 38,wherein portions of n-well region 26 on the source side of gatestructure 30 is exposed. An implantation is then performed to formp-type source extension region 36, which has an edge substantiallyself-aligned to an edge of gate structure 30. Source extension region 36may have a p-type impurity concentration between about 10¹⁵/cm³ andabout 10¹⁴/cm³, for example. Photo resist 38 is then removed.

FIG. 3 illustrates the formation of n-type Lightly Doped Drain (nLDD)region 40. The formation process may include forming and patterningphoto resist 42, wherein a portion of p-well region 28 on the drain sideof gate structure 30 is exposed. An implantation is then performed toform nLDD region 40, which has an edge substantially self-aligned to anedge of gate structure 30. NLDD region 40 may have an n-type impurityconcentration between about 10¹¹/cm³ and about _(—)10¹³/cm³, forexample. After the formation of nLDD region 40, photo resist 42 isremoved.

FIG. 4 illustrates the formation of gate spacers 43, source region 44,drain region 46, and n-well pickup regions 48. MOSFET 100 is thusformed. Gate spacers 43 may be formed by depositing a dielectriclayer(s), and then patterning the dielectric layers to remove thehorizontal portions, while the vertical portions of the dielectriclayers on the sidewalls of gate structure 30 are left to from gatespacers 43. The formation process of each of source region 44 and drainregion 46 may include forming a photo resist (not shown), and thenperforming an implantation to form source region 44 and drain region 46in substrate 20. The impurity concentration of source region 44 anddrain region 46 may be greater than about 10¹⁹/cm³, and may be betweenabout 10¹⁹/cm³ and about 10²¹/cm³. Drain region 46 is spaced apart fromgate structure 30 by nLDD region 40. Accordingly, the respective MOSFET100 may sustain a high drain voltage. FIG. 4 further illustrates theformation of n-well pickup regions 48 for DNW 24. N-well pickup regions48 are also formed by implantation.

FIGS. 5A through 5C illustrate the formation of dielectric mask 50,which is alternatively referred to as a Resist Protective Oxide (RPO).Referring to FIG. 5A, dielectric mask 50 is formed and patterned.Dielectric mask 50 may include silicon oxide or other types ofdielectric materials including, and not limited to, silicon carbide,silicon nitride, high-k dielectric materials, combinations thereof, andmulti-layers thereof. Dielectric mask 50 may or may not include portion50A that is on the drain side of gate structure 30. Dielectric maskportion 50A may or may not include portion 50A1 over and aligned to nLDDregion 40 in order to prevent silicide to be formed on nLDD region 40.Dielectric mask portion 50A1 may also extend on the sidewall of gatespacer 43, and possibly over gate structure 30. Dielectric mask 50 mayalso include portion 50A2 over and aligned to interface 52, which is theinterface between the edges of drain region 46 and the edges of theadjoining STI region 22. At least a center portion of drain region 46 isexposed through opening 54 in dielectric mask 50.

Dielectric mask portion 50A2 overlaps a portion of drain region 46, withoverlapping width W1 being greater than about 200 nm, for example.Dielectric mask portion 50A2 further overlaps STI region 22, withoverlapping width W2 being greater than about 100 nm, for example. WidthW1 and W2 may also be smaller than about 100 nm. Dielectric mask portion50A2 also covers any divot that may occur at interface 52, which divotis the recess in drain region 46 and/or STI region 22 at interface 52.

In some embodiments, on the source side, dielectric mask 50 includesdielectric mask portion 50B (including 50B1 and 50B2) that covers theinterfaces 58 between the edges of source region 44 and the edges of theadjoining portion of STI region 22. Similarly, dielectric mask portion50B2 overlaps a portion of source region 44 and an adjoining portion ofSTI region 22, with overlapping widths being W1 and W2, respectively.Dielectric mask portion 50B also covers any divot that may occur atinterface 58, which divot is the recess in source region 44 and/or STIregion 22 at interface 58. Dielectric mask portion 50B may or may notinclude a portion 501 extending on the top surface of gate structure 30and on the sidewall of gate spacer 43. In alternative embodiments,dielectric mask 50 does not include any portion that overlaps interface58.

FIG. 5B illustrates an exemplary top view of the structure shown in FIG.5A, wherein the cross-sectional view in FIG. 5A is obtained from theplane crossing line 5A-5A in FIG. 5B. As shown in FIG. 5B, substantiallyan entirety of nLDD region 40 is covered by dielectric mask portion50A1. Dielectric mask portions 50A1 and 50A2 may be joined with eachother to form a continuous region. Dielectric mask portions 50A2 maycover some or all interfaces 52 formed between drain region 46 and STIregion 22. For example, in some embodiments, drain region 46 includesedge 46A that is substantially parallel to the lengthwise direction ofgate structure 30, and edges 46B and 46C that are perpendicular to edge46A. Edges 46B and 46C also connect to the edges of nLDD region 40.Accordingly, dielectric mask portion 50A2 also includes three strips,each covering one of edges 46A, 46B, and 46C, which also form interfaces52 with the adjoining STI regions 22. Dielectric mask portion 50A mayform a ring, with a center portion of drain region 46 exposed throughopening 54 in the ring. The side of the ring close to gate structure 30may be wider than the side of the ring away from gate structure 30.

Similarly, dielectric mask portion 50B, if formed, may also include aportion parallel to the lengthwise direction of gate structure 30 andcovering edge 44A of source region 44. Dielectric mask portion 50B mayalso include portions perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of gatestructure 30 and covering edges 44B and 44C of source region 44. FIG. 5Cillustrates a top view of an embodiment similar to the embodiment inFIGS. 5A and 5B, except that dielectric mask portion 50B is not formed.Dielectric mask portion 50A, however, is still formed on the drain sideof MOSFET 100.

FIG. 6A illustrates the formation of gate silicide region 62, sourcesilicide region 64, and drain silicide region 66. In some embodiments,the formation of silicide regions 62/64/66 may include a self-alignedsilicide (salicide) process. The silicide process include blanketdepositing a metal layer (not shown) on the structure shown in FIGS.5A/5B or FIG. 5C, followed by an anneal to cause the reaction betweenthe metal layer and the underlying silicon. Silicide regions 62, 64, and66 are thus formed. The metal layer may include nickel, cobalt,titanium, platinum, or the like. The Unreacted portion of the metallayer is then removed. Due to the masking of dielectric mask 50, theresulting drain silicide region 66 is formed in opening 54 in dielectricmask portion 50A. Silicide region 66 does not extend to interface 52between drain region 46 and STI region 22. Similarly, source silicideregion 64 is formed in the opening in dielectric mask portion 50B, anddoes not extend to interface 58, which is between source region 44 andSTI region 22.

FIG. 6B illustrates a top view of the structure shown in FIG. 6A. It isobserved that the formation of silicide regions 62/64/66 is self-alignedto the openings in dielectric mask 50. The edges of the source silicideregion 64 and drain silicide region 66 are aligned to the inner edges ofthe dielectric mask rings that are formed of dielectric mask portions50B and 50A, respectively.

FIG. 7 illustrates the formation of an insulating dielectric layer 68,such as a Contact Etch Stop Layer (CESL). Insulating dielectric layercovers, and are in contact with, silicide regions 62, 64, and 66 anddielectric mask 50. Insulating dielectric layer 68 may be formed ofdielectric materials such as silicon oxide, silicon nitride, orcombinations thereof. Furthermore, the material of insulating dielectriclayer 68 is selected to be different from that of dielectric mask 50, sothat in the etching of insulating dielectric layer 68 and the overlyingInter-Layer Dielectric (ILD) 70 for forming contact openings 72, thereis a high etching selectivity between insulating dielectric layer 68 anddielectric mask 50.

Following the formation of insulating dielectric layer 68, ILD 70 isformed. Contact openings 72 are then formed in ILD 70 and insulatingdielectric layer 68, so that silicide regions 62, 64, and 66 are exposedthrough contact openings 72. In the formation of contact openings 72,ILD 70 is first etched, with insulating dielectric layer 68 acting asthe etch stop layer. After the etch stops on insulating dielectric layer68, the exposed portions of insulating dielectric layer 68 in openings72 are etched. The etch of insulating dielectric layer 68 stops onsilicide regions 62/64/66. In the situation (as illustrated) thatcontact openings 72 are misaligned with the respective silicide regions64 and 66, dielectric mask 50 is exposed in contact openings 72.Accordingly, in the etch of insulating dielectric layer 68, dielectricmask 50 acts as the etch stop layer, and may be substantially un-etched,or at least have a lower portion left after the etch of insulatingdielectric layer 68 is finished. Accordingly, interfaces 52 betweendrain region 46 and STI region 22 are protected by dielectric maskportion 50A. In the embodiments wherein dielectric mask 50B is formed onthe source side, interfaces 58 between source region 44 and STI region22 are protected by dielectric mask portion 50B.

FIG. 8 illustrates the formation of contact plugs 74 in contact openings72. In some embodiments, contact plugs 74 comprise tungsten. Theformation process may include filling a conductive material, such astungsten, into openings 72, and then preforming a Chemical MechanicalPolish (CMP) to remove excess portions of the conductive material fromover ILD 70. The remaining portions of the conductive material formcontact plugs 74.

It is appreciated that although the illustrated embodiments show a highvoltage MOSFET, dielectric mask 50 may also be formed to cover theinterfaces of the source/drain regions and the STI regions in othertypes of devices including, and not limited to, low voltage MOSFETs suchas logic MOSFETs, memory MOSFETs, and the like. In the illustratedembodiments, p-type MOSFETs are provided to explain the concept of theembodiments. It is also appreciated that the teaching in the embodimentsis readily applicable on the formation of n-type MOSFETs, with theconductivity types of the respective doped regions inverted from that ofp-type MOSFETs.

Furthermore, the MOSFET in accordance with embodiments may havedifferent structures than illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 8. For example,FIG. 9 illustrates MOSFET 200, which includes source extension region 36and drain extension region 37, whose edges are substantially aligned tothe edges of gate electrode 34. N-well 26 and p-well region 28 are notformed in these embodiments. MOSFET 200 may have a drain operationvoltage at around 5 volts, for example. Dielectric mask portion 50B,which is on the source side, may be formed or may be omitted. Width W3of dielectric mask portions 50A and/or 50B in accordance withembodiments may be between about 0.1 μm and about 0.8 μm in accordancewith some embodiments.

The formation of dielectric mask 50 may prevent the leakage to thesource/drain junctions. For example, if a divot is formed at theinterface 52 between drain region 46 and the adjoining STI region 22,dielectric mask 50 at least partially fills the divot, and furtherprevents contact plug 74 from extending into the divot. The leakagecaused by the undesirable formation of the divot is thus eliminated.

In accordance with embodiments, a device includes a substrate, a gatedielectric over the substrate, and a gate electrode over the gatedielectric. A drain region and a source region are disposed on oppositesides of the gate electrode. Insulation regions are disposed in thesubstrate, wherein edges of the insulation regions are in contact withedges of the drain region and the source region. A dielectric maskincludes a portion overlapping a first interface between the drainregion and an adjoining portion of the insulation regions. A drainsilicide region is disposed over the drain region, wherein an edge ofthe silicide region is substantially aligned to an edge of the portionof the dielectric mask.

In accordance with other embodiments, a device includes a substrate, agate dielectric over the substrate, a gate electrode over the gatedielectric, and a gate spacer on a sidewall of the gate electrode. Adrain region and a source region are disposed on opposite sides of thegate electrode. Insulation regions are disposed in the substrate,wherein edges of the insulation regions are in contact with edges of thedrain region to form a first interface parallel to a lengthwisedirection of the gate electrode, and a second and a third interfacesperpendicular to, and adjoining, the first interface. A dielectric maskhas a first, a second, and a third portion overlapping the first, thesecond, and the third interfaces, respectively, and may has a fourthportion on a sidewall of the gate spacer. A drain silicide region isover the drain region, wherein the drain silicide is encircled by thedielectric mask.

In accordance with yet other embodiments, a method includes forminginsulation regions in a semiconductor substrate, forming a gatestructure comprising a gate dielectric and a gate electrode over thesemiconductor substrate, and forming a source region and a drain regionon opposite sides of the gate structure. A dielectric mask is formed,wherein the dielectric mask includes a portion overlapping an interfacebetween the drain region and the semiconductor substrate. A portion ofthe drain region is exposed through an opening in the dielectric mask. Adrain silicide region is formed over the exposed portion of the drainregion. An insulating dielectric layer is formed over the drain silicideregion and the dielectric mask.

Although the embodiments and their advantages have been described indetail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions andalterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit andscope of the embodiments as defined by the appended claims. Moreover,the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited tothe particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, andcomposition of matter, means, methods and steps described in thespecification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readilyappreciate from the disclosure, processes, machines, manufacture,compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing orlater to be developed, that perform substantially the same function orachieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodimentsdescribed herein may be utilized according to the disclosure.Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within theirscope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter,means, methods, or steps. In addition, each claim constitutes a separateembodiment, and the combination of various claims and embodiments arewithin the scope of the disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device comprising: a substrate; a gatedielectric over the substrate; a gate electrode over the gatedielectric; a drain region and a source region on opposite sides of thegate electrode; insulation regions in the substrate, wherein edges ofthe insulation regions are in contact with edges of the drain region andthe source region; a dielectric mask comprising a first portionoverlapping a first interface between the drain region and an adjoiningportion of the insulation regions; and a drain silicide region over thedrain region, wherein an edge of the silicide region is substantiallyaligned to an edge of the first portion of the dielectric mask.
 2. Thedevice of claim 1 further comprising: an insulating dielectric layerover the drain silicide region and the dielectric mask; and a contactplug over the drain silicide region, wherein the contact plug penetratesthrough the insulating dielectric layer, wherein the contact plugcomprises a bottom surface contacting a top surface of the dielectricmask.
 3. The device of claim 2, wherein the insulating dielectric layerand the dielectric mask comprise different materials.
 4. The device ofclaim 1, wherein the first interface is parallel to a lengthwisedirection of the gate electrode, and wherein the first portion of thedielectric mask forms a strip having a lengthwise direction parallel tothe lengthwise direction of the gate electrode.
 5. The device of claim4, wherein the drain region further comprises edges forming a second anda third interface with the insulation regions, wherein the second andthe third interfaces are perpendicular to, and are connected to, thefirst interface, and wherein the dielectric mask further comprisesportions overlapping the second and the third interfaces.
 6. The deviceof claim 1 further comprising: a gate spacer on a sidewall of the gateelectrode; and a lightly doped drain region between the drain region andthe gate electrode, wherein the dielectric mask further comprises asecond portion overlapping the lightly doped drain region, and whereinthe second portion of the dielectric mask extends on a sidewall of thegate spacer and extending over the gate electrode.
 7. The device ofclaim 1, wherein the dielectric mask further comprises a second portionoverlapping interfaces between the source region and the insulationregions, and wherein a center portion of the source region is notcovered by the dielectric mask.
 8. A device comprising: a substrate; agate dielectric over the substrate; a gate electrode over the gatedielectric; a gate spacer on a sidewall of the gate electrode; a drainregion and a source region on opposite sides of the gate electrode;insulation regions in the substrate, wherein edges of the insulationregions are in contact with edges of the drain region to form a firstinterface parallel to a lengthwise direction of the gate electrode, anda second and a third interfaces perpendicular to, and adjoining, thefirst interface; a dielectric mask comprising a first, a second, and athird portion overlapping the first, the second, and the thirdinterfaces, respectively; and a drain silicide region over the drainregion, wherein the drain silicide is encircled by the dielectric mask.9. The device of claim 8 further comprising a lightly doped drain regionbetween the drain region and the gate electrode, wherein the dielectricmask overlaps the lightly doped drain region.
 10. The device of claim 8,wherein the dielectric mask further comprises a fourth portion on asidewall of the gate spacer, wherein the first, the second, the third,and the fourth portions of the dielectric mask form a ring having inneredges and outer edges, and wherein edges of the drain silicide regionare substantially aligned to the inner edges of the ring.
 11. The deviceof claim 8 further comprising: an insulating dielectric layer over thedrain silicide region and the dielectric mask, wherein the insulatingdielectric layer and the dielectric mask comprise different materials;and a contact plug over the drain silicide region, wherein the contactplug penetrates through the insulating dielectric layer, and has abottom surface contacting a top surface of the dielectric mask.
 12. Thedevice of claim 11, wherein a bottom surface of the insulatingdielectric layer contacts a top surface of the dielectric mask.
 13. Thedevice of claim 8, wherein the dielectric mask does not overlapinterfaces between the source region and the insulation regions.
 14. Amethod comprising: forming insulation regions in a semiconductorsubstrate; forming a gate structure comprising a gate dielectric and agate electrode over the semiconductor substrate; forming a source regionand a drain region on opposite sides of the gate structure; forming adielectric mask, wherein the dielectric mask comprises a first portionoverlapping a first interface between the drain region and thesemiconductor substrate, and wherein a portion of the drain region isexposed through an opening in the dielectric mask; forming a drainsilicide region over the exposed portion of the drain region; andforming an insulating dielectric layer over the drain silicide regionand the dielectric mask.
 15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:forming an Inter-Layer Dielectric (ILD) over the insulating dielectriclayer; etching the ILD to form a contact opening in the ILD, wherein aportion of the insulating dielectric layer is exposed through thecontact opening; etching the portion of the insulating dielectric layerusing an etchant that does not etch the dielectric mask substantially,wherein the drain silicide region is exposed through the contactopening; and forming a contact plug in the contact opening andelectrically coupling to the drain silicide region.
 16. The method ofclaim 15, wherein after the step of etching the insulating dielectriclayer, a portion of the dielectric mask is exposed, and wherein thecontact plug comprises a bottom surface contacting a top surface of theexposed portion of the dielectric mask.
 17. The method of claim 14,wherein the first interface is parallel to a lengthwise direction of thegate electrode, wherein the insulation regions are in further contactwith edges of the drain region to form a second and a third interfaceperpendicular to, and adjoining, the first interface, and wherein thedielectric mask further comprises a second and a third portionoverlapping the second and the third interfaces, respectively, andoverlapping portions of the drain region adjacent the second and thethird interfaces.
 18. The method of claim 14, wherein the step offorming the dielectric mask comprises: before the step of forming thesilicide, depositing the dielectric mask as a blanket layer after thesource region and the drain region are formed; and patterning thedielectric mask.
 19. The method of claim 14 further comprising forming alightly doped drain region between the drain region and the gateelectrode, wherein the dielectric mask covers the lightly doped drainregion and a sidewall of a gate spacer on a sidewall of the gatestructure.
 20. The method of claim 14, wherein the dielectric maskfurther comprises a second portion overlapping an interface between thesource region and the insulation regions, and wherein a center portionof the source region is exposed through an opening in the dielectricmask, and wherein the method further comprises forming a source silicideregion over the exposed portion of the source region and in the opening.